JACOB’S PILLOW can emerge as the best of a fairly average-looking bunch in the Western Daily Press Handicap at Bath.

William Haggas’ charge hails from a fine family but has taken some time, and a gelding operation, to really find his stride on the track.

He was far from disgraced in placing on each of his three juvenile outings and was sent off a short-priced favourite as he made his return at Yarmouth last month.

However, he made much harder work of it than expected in seeing off Intermedium by a length, wandering around a bit in the closing stages despite being equipped with a hood for the first time.

While that performance did not rate that well on the day, the runner-up has since run out a six-length winner of a maiden and the third, Al Senad, has subsequently scored by eight lengths.

The efforts of that pair suggest that the regard in which Jacob’s Pillow is held may not be misplaced after all and even with a mark of 84 looking stiff enough at this stage in his short career, he appeared to be keeping a bit for himself and there is probably improvement to come.

Oasis Mirage finished behind Jacob’s Pillow and Intermedium on her two starts to date and is the choice in the Racing UK Anywhere Available Now Maiden Stakes at Thirsk.

Beaten into sixth on the first occasion, the late removal of a hood clearly cost her valuable ground and she was struggling from the early exchanges.

No such problems were evident when behind Intermedium but she looked as though she still had plenty to learn and progress to make.

Normal progression would certainly put her on the premises.

The 129th Year of The Watt Memorial Handicap is the feature at Beverley and New Tarabela is taken to snap a frustrating run of placed efforts.

He has finished second or third in each of his last five starts, most recently finishing just under five lengths adrift over a mile and six furlongs at Haydock.

New Tarabela was just plugging on in Merseyside and the fact his stride did not shorten indicates this step up to two miles may be a positive step.

The conditions of the race ensure he has a bit of pull in the weights and James Tate may have found an excellent opportunity for his charge to get off the mark.

Sophisticated Heir cost just 14,000 guineas at Tattersalls in May and looked a shrewd purchase when winning first time out for David O’Mera.

Winner of one of his nine starts for Jim Bolger, Sophisticated Heir lived up to his favourite tag on his British bow, triumphing by a head at Leicester last month.

The margin of victory was far from impressive, but it was the New Approach gelding’s first start for over 60 days and he must surely come on for the outing.

The handicapper feels he is capable of more as he has put up Sophisticated Heir 4lb, but that extra chunk of weight should not be enough to stop him in the irishbigracetrends.

com Handicap.

At Yarmouth, Armourer can prove too sharp for his rivals in the Asco And Perenco Handicap.